Sugar Land, TX

Sugar Land, Texas Homes for Sale - Still Considered a Seller's Market in 2009

Sugar Land, Texas is still considered a Seller's Market right now. Sugar Land, Texas is includes 2 zip codes. As of July 31, 2009, the zip code 77478 has approximately 5.3 months of housing inventory on the market. Anything less than 8 months of inventory is considered a Seller's market. The average sales price has been $197,500 with 452 homes sold since August 1, 2008. There are currently 200 active listings for sale with an average list price of $354,000. Zip code 77479 has approximately 4.3 months of housing inventory on the market. There were 997 homes sold since August 1, 2008 with an average sales price of $310,750 and there are currenlty 355 active listings for sale with an average list price of $502,000. A seller's market suggests that home prices are stable and that the area is highly desired area. Homes listed in Sugar Land, Texas are typically on the market for less than 60 days. Now is the time to buy a home if you are in the market for a Sugar Land home. If you are a first time home buyer, now would be the opportunity to move to a highly desired area of Houston and use your $8000 tax credit before the expiration of November 30, 2009.

Sugar Land is approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston. Master-planned communities and welcoming neighborhoods enhance home values and create a sense of belonging in this full service municipality that provides high-quality, affordable services to meet the needs of its citizens. The community offers outstanding schools, libraries, civic organizations and other resources that make Sugar Land a great place to work, live and raise a family. Sugar Land, Texas is working to become a self contained suburb of Houston, Texas, offering shopping, dining, entertaining and business complexes. Sugar Land has recently completed a new town center offering a convention center and entertainment complex in the heart of this city.

The City of Sugar Land is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, a golden year that will be marked in a year-long series of special events to commemorate 50 years of incorporation.

Sugar Land, Texas Homes for Sale - Still Considered a Seller's Market in 2009

I am a licensed Realtor® that specialize in the Sugar Land area. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Sugar Land, I am the Realtor® for you. I will treat you with respect and walk you through the process, step by step. Contact me today 281-690-5900 - Ask for Stephen Kendrick and you will immediately be connected to me on my cell phone. You will not be disappointed. I even provide all of my buyers or sellers a free home warranty if you buy or sell through me. Visit me on the web at www.stephenakendrick.com

Sugar Land, Texas First time home-buyer Tax Credit Deadline approaches.

Are you thinking about buying a home in Sugar Land, Texas for the first time? Are you wanting to take advantage of the home-buyer tax credit before the deadline approaches? Then you need to start looking for your new home right now. Don't procrastinate any longer. Now is a great time to buy a home. Home prices in Sugar Land have remained stable for the last several years and Sugar Land is one of the fastest growing areas in Texas and the US.

To quailify for the first time home-buyer tax credit, you cannot have owned a home or property for the last 3 years. Also, the income limits are $75,000 for single tax filers and $150,000 for married tax filers. You must close on your new home before December 1st, 2009 to qualify. I know this sounds like a long time away, but you want to be able to choose your home and not settle on the first home you find. You want to find a place you can call home, not just a place to "hang your hat". You may find a home the first time you go out, but you may want to look at 100 homes before you find the home you want. I am a Realtor in the Sugar Land, Texas area and would be happy to answer any questions you may have on the first time home-buyer tax credit.

Sugar Land, Texas has so much to offer first time home-buyers. Sugar Land, Texas is located 20 miles southwest of Houston, TX and offers high quality schools, libraries, and other resources to raise a family, live and work. Sugar Land was established in 1959 and is still growing strong. There are many neighborhoods and Master Planned communities around Sugar Land, Texas including Avalon, First Colony, TelFair, River Park , Sugar Creek and many others. Come home to Sugar Land, Texas today and call me if you are a first time home-buyer or are looking to upgrade or downsize your home.

Contact me todat at stephen@stephenakendrick.com to discuss your plans on buying a home in Sugar Land, Texas before the deadline of December 1, 2009 approaches so that you too can qualify for the first time home-buyer tax credit!

Sugar Land, Texas First time home-buyer Tax Credit Deadline approaches.

Sugar Land, Texas Rental License Program

I have been doing rentals in the Sugar Land area for the last 4 months or so, and no one ever told me about this license requirement for rental property owners. I came across this article on the sugarlandtx.gov website and was very surprised. I know city licensing requirements usually are only used as a revenue stream, I think this one will actually do the community some good.

Sugar Land, Texas Rental License Program
A Division of Community and Environmental Services Department

About the Program
The City Council passed an ordinance on November 20, 2007 requiring all single family residences used as rental properties in the City of Sugar Land to be licensed and inspected by the City. This measure has been adopted to help ensure that rental properties are conforming to the same property maintenance standards as owner occupied homes within the City. If you own a single family rental unit in Sugar Land, as the property owner you will have to meet a few new requirements under the City's new program including:

1.Annually filing an application for a Rental License and paying $80.00 Licensing Fee.
2.Maintaining your property in compliance with all City codes relating to Health, Sanitation, and Property Maintenance.
3.Remedying any violation of City codes found on your property.
4.Not renting your unit to a Registered Sex Offender if the unit is within 2500 ft of an area designated as a "Child Area" under Article XI, Chapter 3 of the Sugar Land Code of Ordinances
You will need to submit an application for a Rental License and pay the fee as soon as possible (link to the application is provided below). The ordinance went into effect January 1, 2008, and as of July 1, 2008, owners of unlicensed rental properties can be fined up to $500.00 a day for each day that the unit is rented without a license. Water service will also not be provided to rental properties not having a license.

As soon as the City receives your application, we will conduct an inspection of the exterior and grounds of your property to ensure that it is in compliance with all of the City's Health, Sanitation, and Property Maintenance Codes. If no violations are found the City will issue you a license to continue operating your property as a rental unit. If violations are discovered, the City will work with you to establish a schedule for the remediation of the violations and the issuance of a Rental License.

The City of Sugar Land 's primary concern is to gain compliance with our regulations relating to the safe occupancy of property. The City is committed to working with you to ensure that your property complies with all applicable standards. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Rental Licensing Program at 281-275-2785 or send us an e-mail at rentalprogram@sugarlandtx.gov

If you need the link to the Sugar Land, Texas rental license application, email me at stephen@stephenakendrick.com and I will send you that information.

Sugar Land, Texas Rental License Program

This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I am a mom to a special needs child so I speak from experience. Working with families who have special needs isn't for everyone. It takes a vast deal of patience and a willingness to understand more about the person's condition to better anticipate potential needs.

Different types of special needs require different things. My child has autism. Looking at lots of different houses is not for him. I know that when I have to take him to work with me that I have to go early, give him time to walk through the house and look at everything. If this doesn't happen its a complete overload and overstimulation and ends with my nerves being shot.

We have to take into consideration where we live as well. Families must research the schools their kids will attend and whether they provide the services they need. Do they need to live in close proximity to medical centers or doctors? Sometimes it's necessary to think about how close the neighbors are and whether they will be affected when you child decides to have a meltdown. Other things to consider are will you need a house with special modifications, e.g. wheelchair ramps, bath bars, etc?

All in all, this can be wonderful experience for Brokers who have lots of patience and a willingness to help others to achieve their dreams of home ownership. As always, if you have any questions or need any additional help I am only a phone call, email, twitter or text away!

Is now the time to sell? This question has been resonating lately from the mouths of sellers near and far. And, it's a great question! Let me begin by saying Thank God we live in Texas and especially the Greater Houston area! We haven't seen any major dives in home prices here compared to the rest of the country.

There are many factors that go into answering this question correctly. A person must look seriously at their motivation for selling. Perhaps your company is transferring you to another area or you need to move to get into a better school district. Maybe the family has suffered from a job loss or other great expense. Is it something that you must do or something that you want to do? If it's something that you must do in order to keep from losing your home, then the answer would be the sooner, the better.

If you have to sell, there are times of the year that are better to sell than others. April-August are the best months in which to put your home on the market. Kids are out of school and families are taking vacations. More people are looking to move then than at any other time of the year. You are more likely to get a higher price and more overall interest in the Summer time. Buyers know that when you put your home on the market during off seasons such as Christmas and Thanksgiving that you are a motivated seller and will most likely treat you as such. Selling during this particular timeframe will not only garner more interest, but also get you a higher price.

If you have lived in your home for many years and are just looking for something new or even to upgrade, you could really pick and choose your timing. Obviously right now, there are deals to be had just about anywhere. There are lots of foreclosures on the market along with lots of owners having to do short sales. If you have lived in your home longer than the last 5 years, chances are you have some nice equity built up. It might do you well to cash out of that home and purchase more home for less money adding to your potential for some great appreciation in the future.

Whatever your reason for selling, only you yourself can decide when is the best time for you to sell. Seeing as how we have no crystal ball, it's quite difficult to predict the future of the housing market. Go with your gut and choose a qualified Real Estate Professional to help you along the way. As always, should you have any questions, I'm only a phone call, email, twitter or text away!